Keel-blocks for building ships



J. M. LEIGHTON.

KEEL BLOCKS FOR BUILDING SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 29,1919. 1 397 487 Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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wmwroff. 44M? fi I. M. LEIGHTON. KEEL BLOCKS FOR BUILDING SHIPS. 7 APPLICATION FILED NOV.Z9, I919.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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J. M. LEIGHTON.

KEEL BLOCKS FOR BUILDING SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1919- I I Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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H ll 00 zwmm UNHTE STATES to series JOHN MURRAY LEIGHTON, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CONCRETE PILING LTD, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

REEL-BLOCKS FOR BUILDING SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

tatented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed November 29, 1919. Serial No. 341,405.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 71313.)

To all 10 7mm it may coacern Be it known that 1, JOHN MURRAY LEIGH- TON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vvestminster, London England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keel-Blocks for Building Ships, for which I filed an application in Great Britain on October 2, 1918, (Patent No. 182,091,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in keel blocks and in methods of erecting and handling same. Hitherto the general practice has been to support the keel of a ship during construction by building a series of blockings at right angles to the line of the keel. These blockings consisted of short pieces of heavy timber laid on top of one another and tied at intervals by layers of timber running parallel to the keel. Blocks formed of concrete either in one height or laid on top of one another in the same man her as timbers above referred to have been used. The keel of a ship in building is usually laid at a slightly greater declivity than the ground or surface of the slipway, hence the blocks supporting the keel increase in height, being shortest at the lower end of the ship where the keel is usually about -5 feet above the level of the slipway, reaching a height of possibly 20 feet, or more, at the upper end of the ship according to length.

By this invention it is proposed to construct the keel blocks of reinforced concrete or other suitable material commencing with a height to suit the shortest distance between keel and slipway and increasing in height by used throughout on top of the base blocks reaching a maximum height of the largest block of first series plus the base block. A higher type of base block may then be used forming a step up as before and agaln carrying through the first series of top blocks or two base blocks of the first type may be used.

If the larger type of base block is used then when a maximum height of this block plus the largest block of the first series is reached the next step up is formed by use of the larger base block plus thesmaller base block plus the smallest block of the first series and then the first series of blocks is agaln used and by so proceeding any desired height can be obtained by the use of the first series of blocks and one or two types of base blocks.

When the base blocks are used these may be conveniently tied together at the top by a longitudinal layer of timber or reinforced concrete and longitudinal layers of timber or reinforced concrete may be used between each series of base blocks when building one on top of another.

The tops of the first series of blocks may be connected throughout by runners of timbers or concrete bolted or otherwise connected to the sides of the blocks so as to be easily removable in case any individual block has to be temporarily withdrawn.

Means are provided in the top and bottom of each block for the introduction of diagonal ties connecting the top of one block with the bottom. of another.

The diagonal bracings may only beused at such intervals as is desirable, the effect of the bracing to any bay being transmitted throughout the series of blocks by the top runners.

It is necessary to remove individual blocks occasionally to enable work to be carried out on the keel of the ship. .i

These blocks may be conveniently moved by introducing a temporary lever rail or other means attached to the top of the two blocks on each side of the block to be re moved. Means are provided in each block by which any block may be slightly raised on such a beam or rail and rolled or skidded close to an adjacent block so as to leave a clear space for working where the block formerly stood. By the same means the block can easily be replaced.

Provision may be made in the blocks for conveniently engaging shores if desired The means incorporated in the blocks for conveniently moving them may embrace the use of a wheel or roller. In some instances the means for rolling or moving the block on the beam rail, or equivalent, may, be of separate construction from the block and attachable thereto, or made to engage the block while it is being moved.

In order that the invention may be understood l have hereunto appended explanatory drawings whereon:-

Figure 1 illustrates, in side elevation, two sections of a keel supporting structure built up of a number of keel blocks.

Figs. 2 to 8 show end views of some different types of blocks used.

Figs. 9 and lO-are respectively a longitudinal section and an end view of a number of keel blocks and show one example of means for temporarily moving the blocks.

Referring to the drawings In the example shown the keel blocks of reinforced concrete or other suitable material commerce with blocks a of a height to suit the shortest distance between keel and slipway and increasing in height by a series of steps until a height is reached at which the blocks of the series a will be of the maximum height a and weight which can be conveniently handled. A series of base blocks Z) are then introduced of such a height that the base blocks Z2 plus the shortest block a will give a similar step up to that used in the first series and the same series of blocks a are then used throughout on top of the base blocks Z) reaching a maximum height of the largest block a of the first series plus the base block b. A higher type c of base block may then be used forming a step up as before and again carrying through the first series of top blocks a or two base blocks 6 of the firsttype may be used.

If the larger type c of base block is used then when a maximum height of this block plus the largest block a of the first series is reached thenext step up is formed by the use of the larger base block 6 plus thesmaller base block 6 plus smallest block a of the first series and the first series of blocks a is again used and by so proceeding any desired height can be obtained by the use of the first series of blocks a and one or two types 'ofbase blocks. 7

When base blocks are used these may be conveniently tied together at the top by a longitudinal layer 9 of timber, or reinforced concrete, and longitudinal layers 9 of timber or reinforced concrete may be usedbetween each series of base blocks when building on on top. of another.

The tops of the first series of blocks may be connected throughout by runners h of timberor concrete, bolted or otherwise. con nected to the sides of the blocks so'as to be easily removable in case any individual block has to be temporarily withdrawn.

' 7 Means are provided in the top and bottom of each block for the introduction of di agonal ties la connecting the top of one block with the bottom of another.

The diagonal bracings kwmay only be used at such intervals as is desirable, the effect of the bracing is to any bay being transmitted throughout the series of blocks by the top runners h.

It is necessary to remove individual blocks occasionally to enable work to be carried out on the keel of the ship.

These blocks may be conveniently moved by introducing a temporary lever rail Z supported by or removably attached to the top of the two blocks on each side of the block to be moved, and any block may be slightly raised on such beam or rail Z and be rolled or skidded close to an adjacent block so as to leave a clear space for working where the block formerly stood. By the same means the block can be easily replaced.

' The means shown for conveniently moving the blocks comprises a carriage m running on the rail Z. The rail Z is in the example shown attached to the blocks by hooks n which are combined with a screw n to form a jack by which the rail Z can be raised and lowered. The screw jack may be provided at one or both ends of the rail Z.

Any other suitable lifting and lowering means could be used in place of the screw jacks described and shown in the example glven.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a keel supporting structure comprising keel blocks and base blocks which rest on the ground and support the keel of a ship at a sufficient height above the ground to give access to the whole underside of the vessel during construction, any

individual keel blocks being removed tem-- porarily in the manner described. The keel of the ship is supported usually by a pair of wedges placed on each block the wedges being first removed when any individual block is to be shifted. V i

When a ship is being launched it is supported by the usual launchways which are placed under the ship at some distance out from the keel blocks and the wedges on top of the latter supporting the keel are then removed so that the entire weight of the ship is transferred tothe launchways. The keel blocks might also be removed if necessary but preferably the wedges would be of sufficient depth to allow any temporary timbering of the launching cradle which might project below the level of the keel to clear the keel blocks, and'the structure formed by the keel blocks would then remain after the launch ready for laying down another meme? base blocks of difierent heights to suitthe gradient of the keel relative to the slipway, a series of the keel blocks being laid to give a step by step increase in helght followed by repeats of the series supported successively on the series of base blocks.

2. A keel supporting structure consisting of similar series of keel blocks the blocks of each series increasing in height in constant progression, in combination with series of base blocks of difierent heights to suit the gradient of the keel relative to the slip- Way, a series of the keel blocks being laid to give a step by step increase in height followed by repeats of the series supported successively on the series of base blocks, means for securing the base blocks together, and means for securing the keel blocks of each series to one another and to the blocks of the next adjacent series.

3. A keel supporting structure consisting of similar series of keel blocks the blocks of each series increasing in height in constant progression, in combination with series of base blocks of different heights to suit the gradient of the keel relative to the slipway, a series of the keel blocks being laid to give a step by step increase in height followed by repeats of the series supported successively on the series of base blocks and means whereby any one of the blocks can be temporarily moved from position to provide a clear working space.

4L. A keel supporting structure comprising in combination, similar series of keel supporting blocks the blocks of each series increasing in height in constant progression, means for securing the blocks together and means in conjunction with the blocks for the attachment of a lifting jack for the purpose of moving any one of the blocks from position in the series.

5. The combination with a keel supporting structure formed of series of blocks, of means for lifting and moving any support from its position in the series said means comprising stirrups removably supported from the blocks, arail carried by the stirrup, a carriage slidable on the rail to a position under the block to be lifted, and screw means for raising the rail and carriage to lift the block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MURRAY LEIGHTON.

Witnesses:

ANDREW HAMILTON, HARRY WALTER ALLsoP. 

